This match celebrates the 125th anniversary of the birth of Arnold Ridley, who is fondly remembered by younger generations than saw the original as the elderly Private Godfrey of the failing bladder in Dad’s Army 1968-77 and was in 80 episodes, being the oldest cast member of 72 at start and 81 at the end, as well as appearing in the films, play and radio shows. Less widely known is that he was a prolific playwright with over thirty plays, the most famous being The Ghost Train 1923, a great West End success (665 performances and several revivals) which has been filmed several times, though he sold the amateur rights for £200 so lost a potential fortune, as it is regularly featured in schedules. Also little known is that he was the Great Uncle of Daisy Ridley of Star Wars. Hardly known at all is that he was a wounded veteran of both world wars:- in WW1 he was in Somerset Light Infantry and “rather badly knocked about” fighting at the Battle of the Somme, where he was injured three times including bayonet wounds which left him with no strength in one arm and a hand nearly off as well as a bayonet wound to the groin, legs riddled with shrapnel, and a blow to the head from a German rifle butt which caused him to suffer blackouts for many years, so was finally medically discharged in the rank of Lance Corporal [British War Medal & Victory Medal], being at first accused of self-inflicted wounds ! He was wounded again in WW2 when part of the British Expeditionary Force in the “phoney war” and was in the last British ship to leave Boulogne after the battle, and later discharged in the rank of Captain on health grounds due to shell shock; he then served in the actual Home Guard in his home town of Caterham, Surrey. Born in Walcot, Bath, Somerset, he attended Clarendon School & Bath City Secondary, was a graduate of University of Bristol in Education and did a teaching practice at an elementary school in Bristol. Before WW1 tried acting whilst a student at Bristol Theatre Royal and was paid £1 a week for appearances. On demob in 1918 was in Birmingham Repertory Company for two years, playing 40 roles, then moved to Plymouth continuing to act, but war wounds took their toll and he worked at his father’s boot company in Bath and took up writing, which proved successful. After WW2 demob began acting again and was post-1945 with Harrogate Repertory and the White Rose Players in Harrogate. He was a Freemason and keen rugby player, being President of Bath Rugby 1950-52. He garnered 63 screen credits, amongst those during the 60s he played “Doughy” Hood the baker in long-running radio series The Archers and was in Crossroads 1964-68 as the Vicar. He was awarded the OBE in 1982 and for Dad’s Army fans there is a statue of Captain Mainwaring in Thetford, Norfolk where most external scenes were filmed by the company. He died in 1984 at the actors’ home in Denville Hall, Northwood, Hillingdon and his cremation was at Golders Green, with his ashes interred with his parents at Bath Abbey Cemetery, all of his theatrical memorabilia being left to Bristol University. We believe him more than worthy of a match in his honour and hope you accept – if the numbers or ratings do not suit, then please make contact.
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